Wednesday, March 27, 2013

North America's smallest and most colorful falcon is the American Kestrel, a robin-sized bird that prefers open habitat, such as fields and prairies interspersed with trees that can be used as hunting perches. During the past several years, kestrel populations have gradually declined across North America, especially in the Northeast and in Appalachia. Because of this decline, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia (ACCA) in Morgantown, is partnering with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to give kestrels extra help to maintain healthy populations in the Mountain State. The DNR has provided nest boxes and the ACCA is partnering with landowners to install and monitor nest boxes. Individuals are wanted, especially in Monongalia and Preston counties, to install, and monitor, kestrel boxes on their property. To participate contact Doug Gilbert at dgilbert11188@gmail.com.
Kestrels hunt mice, voles and other small mammals that are often considered a nuisance. These little birds nest in holes in trees, a rare commodity in today's world since dead trees near open areas are often cut down. Nest boxes placed on utility poles, highway signs or living trees are used to mitigate this problem.
"Kestrels are an important part of our natural heritage. They are a charismatic species that people enjoy watching and they are indicators of healthy pasturelands in West Virginia. Conservation biologist are worried about their declines, but also excited about the opportunities for citizen science and partnership to buffer their populations against decline," said Dr Todd Katzner, a WVU research assistant professor and founding board member of ACCA.
Info on ACCA: www.accawv.org.
If you find an injured bird, call 304-906-5438.

West Virginia University is
pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph Morton, Professor, Department of
Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Design is the recipient of the 2012-2013 Benedum Distinguished
Scholar Award in the Biosciences and Health Sciences category.

A lecture and reception are planned to honor Dr. Morton. The lecture entitled, Evolution of a Fungal Symbiosis Critical to the Life of Most Plants on Earth, will be presented by Dr. Morton on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the NRCCE (National Research Center for Coal & Energy), Room 101AB. A reception will follow. For directions to the NRCCE and parking instructions please go to their website at http://www.nrcce.wvu.edu/directions.cfm.

Dr. Morton has indicated his
desire that you be extended an invitation to share this special
afternoon with him. On behalf of West Virginia University, I extend to
you a cordial invitation and hope it is possible for you to join us.

If you have any questions
regarding the planned activities, please do not hesitate to call the
Office of the Provost at (304) 293-2021.

I hope many of you can come to the first class this
Thursday to meet and talk with the new class. We have 19 signed up,
but 2 or 3 cannot make it the first day.

Also Debby and I had a great time visiting the Morgantown Learning
Academy last week. We hiked their trail with the kids and came up with a
good Earth Day Project. I also would like you to consider adopting the
MLA as a chapter project. They need a lot of help to make their
grounds into a great experience for all their students. We will be
talking about this Saturday so please come if you can.
See you soon
Ellen

ps As an extra incentive to attend, I understand that the new re-certification cards will be available at this class. denise

Just a reminder that the Monongahela MNs will have a social gathering at
the Terra Cafe this Saturday at 9:30am. We'll be discussing our
upcoming Earth Day service project at the Morgantown Learning Academy
and other upcoming events of interest. As weather permits we'll also do
a little jaunt on the trail to look for signs of spring. Terra Cafe is
located on the rail trail in Star City right beside Citynet's offices
and the Tugboat Depot playground. Hope to see you there!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

***Thursday, March 14th, 6-7:30 pm "Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard." Green Night at the Morgantown Public Library

***Sunday March 17- Darnell Hollow Field Trip -- 10am-Noon with Coopers Rock Foundation. Check with Adam Polinski for more information at trailwork@coopersrock.org

***Thursday, March 21st, Master Naturalist classes start for 2013. The Master Naturalist Program, run by the DNR, consists of lectures and field trips led by botanists and other nature interpreters. The core mission of the program is to train volunteers to assist government agencies, schools and NGOs with research, outdoor recreation development and environmental education and protection. Info at www.mnofwv.org. Email ellen1121@comcast.net to join.

***Saturday April 6 Adopt-a-trail Spring Cleanup -- Coopers Rock State Forest
Check with leader Ann Devine-King, 304-594-2636 or atdking@gmail.com
***Saturday, Sunday April 13,14 -- Coopers Rock State Forest Coopers Rock Work Weekend led by the Coopers Rock Foundation. On one day, work will focus on removing some of the Hurricane Sandy leftovers behind the Concession Stand. and use them for Habitat Restoration, and work on getting trails ready for spring and summer hikers and other visitors to the forest. .
Volunteers will meet at the Day Use Lot 1/4 mile from I-68. Participant partners include the WVU Climbing Club and the Sierra Club, but this is a great activity for scout troops and other service organizations. It is also a way for families to spend the day together, helping to clean up the forest they use for recreation and other family activities and events.
Trailwork on Sunday, April 14 is scheduled from 1-5 p.m.; work times on Saturday TBA. For more information, contact Trail Coordinator Adam Polinski at trailwork@coopersrock.org
You can join an email list for volunteer trailwork by contacting Adam at the above email.

***Check www.mountaineeraudubon.org for many spring field trips and opportunities for bird watching with knowledgeable, friendly Audubon members.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Money is available to help bring back larger populations of the golden-winged warbler, the US Departments of Agriculture and Interior announced. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working with a program called Working Lands for Wildlife, which funds the recovery of certain at-risk, threatened or endangered species. The program has divided about $33 million in federal funds among seven selected species in the US. Parts of Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties are among 18 in West Virginia that are habitat for the golden-winger warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera). Properties eligible for funds include, but are not limited to, tracts 3-5 acres or more that are bordered by about 75 percent forest, including forest at elevations of 2,000-3,200 feet. Interested producers and landowners can enroll at their local NRCS field office. Applications submitted before April 1 will be ranked for funding, with contracts obligated by June 30.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Last year, I had announced that geologist/paleontologist Ray Garton was
willing to offer workshops in fossil preparation and identification to
interested Master Naturalist students. Quite a number of people
indicated interest (23 of you), but Ray needed to purchase an additional
piece of equipment to accommodate such a large number of people and
funding was tight. The equipment has now been acquired and Ray is ready
to get started. He has a large quantity of dinosaur bones in matrix, a
750,000 year old West Virginia peccary and other fossils that needs to
be prepared and he is eager to train people to work with the equipment.
Some of the bones and fossils will go to research and others may be
exhibited at the WV Geological & Economic Survey Museum where Ray is
curator. The classes will probably take place on Sundays but there may
be other days available to those interested in additional lessons.

If you are still interested in taking advantage of this opportunity,
please respond to me via email as soon as you can. If you know of other
Master Naturalists or MN students who might also be interested, feel
free to forward this email to them. You should be able to get elective
credit for this and possibly volunteer hours as well.

To
celebrate the funding of "Next Step - Sheepskin Trail" you are invited
to a community gathering tomorrow, Thursday, March 7. Events start with
a trail walk at 4:30 PM at the corner of Penn and Railroad Streets.
This will be followed by a program from 5-6 PM at the Jordan Building,
26 Penn Street. Guests will include Morgantown Mayor Jim Manilla,
Fayette County Commissioners, local government officials, and rail-trail
enthusiasts.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Spring
is coming and homeowners are starting to think about
getting out in the yard again and making it an enjoyable place.

But,
how about also making that space friendly to your wildlife friends?

On
Thursday, March 14, WVU
Wildlife Biologist
Sheldon Owen will help you think through some first steps.

Geared
to adults and children alike, the workshop will cover how to give native wild
plants and animals what they need to thrive, while avoiding damage some of them
can cause. The session takes place 6:00–7:30pm at the downtown public library (373 Spruce Street),
sponsored by the Morgantown Municipal Green Team.

Contributors

Please note:

If planning on taking a class at a chapter other than your own, please email/call the contact person listed first to find out if the class is still scheduled, where it is, if they have room for you, and if there is any cost involved. Check also with your own chapter coordinator to see what paperwork you will need in order to get credit for the class.

To see the latest schedules from the other chapters, go to the Master Naturalist website: MNofWV.org